What are the simplest ways to hypermile to persue someone to start

[guest001]

I'm trying to think of all the ways to get better mileage that are easy that you could suggest to someone with no interest in fuel economy or does not have to time for there car. The type of person that really does not put anymoney into there car.


No accesories; lights, radio, a/c, etc.
Not letting the car warm, especailly when its hotter outside (80F +). This obviously saves gas, but it is debatable if it is bad for your car or not.
Not using the brakes
Slow Smooth acceleration
Not floor boarding it
Keeping the tires inflated
what else?

which brings me to another question, what is hypermiling? getting better mileage then what the epa rates the car? yes, then maintaining the car and keeping the tires inflated is not hypermiling. as you'd expect to get what the EPA rates the car do such. overinflating the tires would be. It really depends how the EPA rates the car. Do they let the car warm up completely? Do they drive smooth with gradual acceleration? How fast do you they go on the highway? YOu can be hypermiling technically, based on how the there testing.

[theholycow]

The definition of hypermiling technically (or as technically as the term can be defined) is when you significantly exceed your car's EPA rating through your own effort to do so. More colloquially, it refers to the odd stuff we do, as you say.

For the type of person with no interest in fuel economy, you're probably wasting your time. Saving gas is its own reward and if that reward doesn't mean anything to someone then they'll have no motivation.

Modern cars are designed to be warmed up by driving, not by idling.

Here's a couple more things for your list for people who don't want to put in much effort:

• Try to roll through green lights instead of stopping at red lights, by braking early so the light changes before you arrive.
• Don't brake excessively for turns (that should be easier to explain than "Not using the brakes").
• Remove unnecessary exterior racks/accessories.
• Avoid idling in general, the car can sit still while you wait for your wife to come out of Burger King just as well turned off as it can turned on.

[Ford Man]

In newer vehicles coasting a much as possible is a good one since most newer cars have deceleration fuel cut off. Tell them to keep their tires inflated to max sidewall, keep the oil changed, and front end aligned. Remind them lots of our oil money is going into terrorist countries and being used against us. Also remind them that through lower consumption we can have a small amount of control over the price of oil/gas.

[OUScooby]

I'd just like to add something to the warming up the car point. I always let me car idle for about five minutes before driving. Yes modern cars can "warm up while driving", but there are a few reasons I warm my car anyway. If the car has been sitting overnight, the oil is no longer clinging to the internal parts of the motor so your engine will not be properly lubricated. I'll let the car idle so everything can get coated in oil.
Second if your oil is not up to temperature and pressure it also will not be lubricating as well. Warming up your car is something I'd especially recommend to people who have short commutes. If your daily commute is only a few minutes then this means that your probably isn't up to temp and pressure until you park it and shut it off. This means that during most of your driving your oil isn't doing its job and your engine is not properly lubricated.
Over time a lack of lubrication will lead to wear in the cylinder wall which causes a loss in compression, and a significant loss in MPGs.
Most modern cars are equipped with TGV's, tumble generator valves. These are emission control devices that are basically a butterfly value at the bottom of the intake manifold. At start up when the engine is cold the butterfly values only open part way, restricting the flow of air into the engine, in turn limiting the amount of fuel needed. The TGVs don't fully open until the engine get up to temp. Or they'll be equipped with EGRs, exhaust gas recyclers, which put exhaust gasses back into the intake manifold, reducing the amount of "clean air" coming in, and reburning any unburned fuel. So the amount of fuel you'll burn letting your car warm up will not be as significant as you think, and may save wear on the engine that will cost you in the future.

[LxMike]

5 Minutes of ideling??

[OUScooby]

Originally Posted by LxMike

5 Minutes of ideling??

To get near operating temp and pressure, yes.

[theclencher]

You're just plain wrong pal.

[GasSavers_mooner]

Your engine will not warm up efficiently while sitting still. You will warm up quicker while driving slowly. If it is extremely cold (<0F), or if you live just a few feet from the highway you need to travel on then go ahead and idle a minute or two. Use lightweight synthetic oil, 5w-30, and a block heater if you live in the Artic.

[Ford Man]

And just to think I've been starting up and taking off right away. Maybe that's why my Escort is using oil after only 497K miles!!! Aparrently it hasn't done much damage to my engine. My oil pressure is up to about 70-75 PSI within seconds of starting the engine when cold. The warmer the oil gets the lower the pressure will get because the oil thins down with heat.

[soda_pop503]

Five minutes is much longer then needed to get everything coated and a little water temperature. but my car takes about 5 mins (driving) to fully warm the coolant and another 10 mins to fully warm the oil. I know this because after this amount of time, my oil pressure is substantially lower than it was when only the coolant was warm.